UK Government Faces Stalemate Over AI Copyright Reforms

Ministers pledge further reviews and economic assessments as creative industries and tech giants remain divided on proposed changes.

The UK government is reviewing over 11,000 consultation responses on its proposed AI copyright reforms, which would allow AI companies to train models on copyrighted content unless rights holders opt out.
Creative professionals and lawmakers, including Sir Paul McCartney and Baroness Beeban Kidron, have strongly opposed the proposals, citing threats to artists' livelihoods and intellectual property rights.
AI companies such as OpenAI and Google have rejected the opt-out model and transparency obligations, arguing these measures pose implementation challenges and hinder competitiveness.
Ministers have committed to conducting economic impact assessments and exploring technical solutions to address concerns, with no final decisions made on the reforms.
The government aims to balance fostering AI innovation with protecting the UK’s creative sector, but deep divisions between stakeholders have stalled progress.